The UK’s symphony orchestras including Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Philharmonia Orchestra, the Hallé, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Ulster Orchestra will bring music to every corner of the UK this summer.
Alongside the world-famous BBC Proms which begin on 19 July the summer highlights include outdoor performances, free events and special projects in schools, in the streets and in city centre public spaces to celebrate the diversity, popularity and range of orchestral music.
Thursday 27 June
London Philharmonic Orchestra: Debut Sounds: Sound in Motion
An exciting meeting of emerging talent, the annual London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Young Composer programme features new works for dance pairing postgraduate choreographers form Trinity Laban with the award-winning LPO Composer-in-Residence Tania León.
Friday 28 June
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, All Things Orchestral
A special summer evening concert in Hyde Park, presented by American Express, hosted by Myleene Klass and featuring Esther Abrami and MILOŠ.
Friday 5 July
Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra: For You Blue: Celebrating The Beatles Greatest Hits 1967-1970
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Beatles 1967-1970, affectionately known as The Blue Album, the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the world’s premiere Beatles tribute band The Bootleg Beatles are presenting a concert featuring all the classic late period Beatles hits. A must-see multi-media show for Beatles and Orchestral fans of all ages. They are performing at the M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool before touring to The Glasshouse, Gateshead (7 July) and Usher Hall, Edinburgh (8 July).
Saturday 13 July
London Symphony Orchestra: BMW Classics
A free concert in Trafalgar Square bringing together the musicians of the LSO with 50 young musicians, participants in the LSO East London Academy, conducted by Duncan Ward.
Fri 19 July – Sat 14 September
BBC Proms
The BBC Proms brings together some of the world’s greatest international orchestras alongside the very best of British musicians and creativity. The BBC’s own ensembles perform in a total of 38 Proms, and a further 20 orchestras from across the UK perform throughout the season. For the first time, a weekend-long Proms festival launches at the newly opened Bristol Beacon and a brand-new Proms residency launches in venues across Nottingham. Following the success of 2023, the BBC Proms returns to Gateshead for a weekend-long residency at the Glasshouse International Centre for Music.
Friday 26 – Saturday 27 July
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra’s Meyrick Park Proms
Join the BSO for two special outdoor concerts at Meyrick Park, Bournemouth, including Classical Extravaganza (Fri 26) and Disco Symphonic Spectacular (Sat 27). Bring a picnic and enjoy a memorable evening, which concludes with an impressive pyrotechnic and fireworks display!
Saturday 27 July
The Hallé: Disco Dynamite
The Hallé will present a summer evening concert of disco favourites from Sister Sledge to Earth, Wind and Fire, to Chic and Gloria Gaynor and The Jackson 5, as part of their special summer season in their international concert venue, The Bridgewater Hall Manchester.
Tue 30/Wed 31 July
Philharmonia Orchestra / Garsington Community Opera: A Trip to the Moon
Inspired by Georges Mélies’s seminar 1902 silent film, this fantastical opera for all ages, by Andrew Norman, breaks down linguistic barriers so that Earth people can communicate with Moon people in their own lyrical lunar language.
Saturday 3 August
Royal Scottish National Orchestra: La Pasión Según San Marcos
The opening concert of the Edinburgh International Festival at Usher Hall will feature Osvaldo Golijov’s work, one of four Passions commissioned to commemorate the 250th anniversary of J S Bach. Conducted by Joana Carneiro with soloists Orquesta Pasión, National Youth Orchestra of Scotland, Schola Cantorum de Venezuela.
Mon 26 – Sat 31 August
City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra: CBSO in the City
The CBSO will be out and about in Birmingham for a whole week of free musical performances across the city. The orchestra will pop-up in iconic locations including The Bullring, New Street Station, West Midlands Metro and West Bromwich Football Stadium, as well as offering lots of smaller performances in local pubs, libraries, and community centres.
Sunday 1 September
Ulster Orchestra: On Your Doorstep: Symphonic September
On the ancient site of the Hill of the O’Neill and Ranfurly House in Dungannon, the orchestra will present its annual afternoon of music from stage and screen.
In May, the Association of British Orchestras – alongside a host of partner organisations – launched a new three-year campaign to celebrate the power and value of classical music and the UK’s orchestras.
A new survey, as part of the launch, revealed that 71% of people believe that classical music amplifies the big moments in life – we can’t wait to join you in creating memories this summer.
Click here to book our Meyrick Park Proms concerts